On The Fly

Podcast- Detentions . . . Nod your head if you remember the “punishment” of being kept after school - A  Detention . Punishment? I’m inclined to say the kids in our school thought detention was a joke. Let me give you a couple of examples, stick with me. My graduating class of 1974 (grades 1-12) attended school in three different buildings.  First, it was Cuba Elementary, a design that followed the era’s more modern, one-story, flat-roof design aesthetic. Here we attended grades one - six. No kindergarten when I started school. Then we transitioned to the old High School building on Main Street, built-in 1913.   A three-story brick design similar to Jefferson High school from the TV sitcom Happy Days .   And finally, our new building which I believe opened in 1970, connected, to the old one, via the Gymnasium and Cafeteria. It was a grand achievement when we finally  graduated  to the 7th grade, Jr. High on Main Street. This was our first introduction...

Main Street, Cuba, Il. Allow me to share a story with you. You see, 2014 is the 40th year anniversary of Cuba High School’s class of 1974. My class. You’ve all heard the tiresome cliche, “Times flies.” Well, it does. No kidding! While going through scanned photos of my High School year books, I was transported back in time . . . “You know how this goes,” said my sixth grade teacher. “Face the chalk board, feet spread apart, bend over, hands on the desk - sssmaaack as the paddle hit its mark on my hind-side.  Honestly, I don’t even remember what this paddling was for. But I do remember the sting, and the embarrassment I felt standing in front of the class. No, I wasn’t the only one. Like all schools we had our share of misfits. In our small, rural farming community of west central Illinois I’m happy to report there was no teen violence, no shootings, and no serious vandalisms. Well, ok, we did tend to torment the local policeman, who we dubbed Barney Fife. A group of us wo...